Art of agriculture



April 24, 1928. 1,667,428

- A. J. MASON' ART 0F AGRICULTURE Filed Aug. 1a, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 1Ivllnvllluvlv A. J. MASON ART OF AGRICULTURE April 24? 1928.

Filed Aug. 18. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 2 April 24,` 192s.

A. J. MASON ART oF AGRICULTURE Filed Aut. 18. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Apri124, 192s. 1,667,428 f A. J. MASON ART OF AGRICULTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Filedv Aug. 18, 1926 y m Z WMA w m M 2, @j IKMN MMU, w w

Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,661,428 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. MASON, OF HOHEWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MASON ALFALFAPROCESS COMPANY, A. CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

AM or AGRICULTURE.

Application filed August 18, 1928. Serial No. 129,980.

This invention relates to improvement-s in the art. of agriculture andmore especially to apparatus for, and process of curing, drying:` ordesiccating freshly cut crops.

In my prior Patents Nos. 1,191,980, of July 25, 1916, and 1,264,955, ofMay 7, 1918, I have` disclosed apparatus for and the process of treatingfreshly cut crops. In such patents, reference is made to the spreadingof the material upon a conveyor in a layer of approximately uniformthickness and density before submitting the same to the drying agent. Ihave found that the spreading of the material by hand is impractical;

as it is impossible or too diilicult to form a layer or mat in thismanner with a thickness and density of sufficient uniformity. If the matcontains portions that are abnormall dense, such portions are likely tobe insu iciently dried with the result that centers of fermentation arecreated with the resulting danger of destruction or spoiling of aquantity of the product. Also, if the mat contains holes or thinportions, the drying gases seek such places with consequent neglect tothe other portions and overheating with danger of ignition to the thinplaces.

One of the features of my invention is thc provision of mechanism andapparatus for automatically and continuously forming an endless mat ofsubstantially uniform texture, thickness, density and permeability.

I The inventions disclosed herein are part-icularly useful andadapta-ble for the drying of leguminous and sod crops, such as, forexample, alfalfa and clover. Such crops have a high nitrogen value andare especial-l ly valuable as a food for cattle. Such crops, growing assod also bind the soil to a considerable extent, thus preventing it frombeing wasted or washed away by cultivation and rains; andthis featureincreases their value as crops. y In the drying of the material, theproduct after bem formed into a mat is passe slowly throug a drying ovenresting upon a conveyor. The conveyor is necessarily more or less porousinorder to permit free passage therethrough of the drying agent.

I have found that y my improved apparatus forand process of making themat, very little of the material falls through the conveyor when passingthrough the oven. If 5' the material is 'placed on the conveyor bythereof be made exceedingly small.

hand as, for example, with the use of pitch forks, there is more or lessloss of the same through the conveyor unless the meshes The mat made bythe use of my invention however,` apparently is more or less boundtogether into a sort of felt-like structure, so that there is verylittle, if any, loss of material through the conveyor.

Other vfeatures and advantages of myv inventionpwill` appear morefullyas I proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of'my invention shown inthe accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a mat makingmachine, Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the line 2 of Fig. 1,Fig. 3 yis, a diagrammatic view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig.1, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing aportion on an enlarged scale, Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional viewthrough one of the spiked rollers, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view of the spiked rollers, and Fig. 7 is a view showing amodified form of the lower end of the mattress forming mold.

In the ractice of my invention, the crop is prefera ly cut in shortlengths substantially equal to, or shorter than the thickness of the matto be formed. For example, I have here shown apparatus for formmg a matabout ten inches thick; and the crop is preferably cut into lengths ofabout eight inches. In a separate application, I am showing and claimingan improved mower for harvesting the crop and thus cutting it into shortlengths in the field. rSuch machine, however, forms no part of thepresent invention and consequently is not shown herein. The crop, afterbeing cut into short lengths, is delivered by any suitable means to themat making machine. In another application, I am showing and claiming afieldd wagon adapted to be loaded by the mower,

carry the material to the mat machine, and there be automaticallyunloadedonto the receiving conveyor of the latter. This wagon and theunloading mechanism in connectlon therewith, however, form no part ofthe. present invention and consequently are not shown or describedherein` As shown in the drawings, 10 indicates an inclined receivingconveyor of the mat making machine, onto the lowerV end of which thecrop may be loaded in any suitable manner, as for example, by theunloading mechanism of a filed wagon above referred to. The conveyorcomprises an endless belt of any suitable structure passing overthedriving roller 11 at the upper end and over a suitable idler roller(not shown) at the lower end. The conveyor 10 is driven in any suitablemanner as, for example, by means of the belt-wheel l2 on the shaft 13carrying the roller 11. The belt-wheel 12 is driven by the belt 14,which in turn is actuated by the belt-Wheel 15 on the shaft 16, which isdriven through the train of gears 17, 17 by the motor 18.

The material upon reaching the top of the conveyor is brought intoengagement with three rapidly rotating spiked rollers indicated by 19,19. These rollers may be driven in any suitable manner as, for example,by means of the gear-wheel 20 -on the shaft of the lower roller which inturn is driven by a pinion on the shaft 17. The other two rollers may bedriven from the lower end by suitable sprockets and chains 21 and 22respectively. The parts are so geared and proportioned that the threespiked rollers all rotate in the same direction (as indicated by thearrows in Fig. l2) and preferably at the rate of about 100 rotations perminute.

Since the construction and operation of the three spiked rollers 19, 19is the same,

I will describe in detail but one. As shown in Fi s. 5 and 6, the roller19 is hollow and rotata ly mounted upon a shaft 23 having its centerportion, as indicated by 23, slightly offset or eccentrically arrangedby means 'of the bends 23". Rotatably mounted on the center offsetportion 23a of the shaft are six bars 24 arranged substantially 60apart, each carried vby a pair of arms 24a. Each of the bars 24 carriesa series of spikes 25, 25 adapted. to project through correspondingholes 26, 26 in the drum or cylinder 19. AThe spikes'are of such alength and the center portion 23 of the shaft is offset to such anextent, that the ends of the spikes in one extreme position, as shown onthe left-hand Vlili side of Fig. 5, will be completely withdrawn so thattheir points are substantially flush with the outer surface. of the drum19; and in the other extreme position, as shown on the right-hand sideof Fig. 5, will fully project through the cylinder. It will be seen thatrotation of the cylinder 19 on the shaft 23 will therefore causerelative movement between the spikes and the cylinder causing the spikesto move from fully retracted position to the fully extended position andback again to fully retracted posltion, during each -complete rotationof the cylinder. The bendsf' of the shafts 23 are so positioned thattliegifspikes 25 will be fully retracted when substantially from 90 to180 from the Arranged just behind and below thev spiked rollers 19 is avertical boot about eight feet high and of the dimensions of the mat tobe formed. For example, this boot may be ten inches thick (for a teninch mat) and of the desired width. The boot is formed of a stationaryfront wall 30 and a movable' back wall 31. is preferably supported uponthe adjustable arms 32 and the rods 33, the latter'takng most of theweight and the former being adjustable forwardly and backwardly as1xshown in order to vary the thickness of the oot.

The back wall 31 is preferably formed ofan endless strip of sheet metalpassing over the driving roller 34 at the top and the idler 35 at thebottom. The back wall 31 moves downwardly at substantially the same rateof speed as the movement of the conveyor 36, which receives thecompleted mat, and consequently the driving roller 34 is preferablydriven from the end supporting roller 37 of the conveyor 36. This may beaccomplished in any suitable manner as bymeans of the sprocket 38, chain39, counter-shaft 40 and gear 41 thereon meshing with the gear 42 on theshaft 43 which carroes the roller 34. Any suitable means, not shown, maybe used for driving the conveyor 36. Arranged behind lthe back wall 31are a plurality of guide strips 44 in order to prevent backward bulgingof the wall 31.

The lower end of the front wall 30 is curved as indicated by 30a andterminates close to and slightly above the forward end of the conveyor36, which is adapted to receive the completed mat from the boot. Thecurved lower end of the front wall 30 instead of being smooth metal asindicated by 30a, could be made of rollers to lessen fthe friction asindicated by 30b in Fig. 7.

In the operation of the device, the crop as indicated by is carriedupwardlyy on the conveyor 10 to the spiked rollers 19, which may beapproximatelytwo feet in diameter and arranged a few inches apart. Thespikes may be sharpened like the prongs of a pltch fork. The rapidlyrotating spiked rollers operate to separate, disintegrate, disentangleand disarrange the4 crop and brake up any mattin or lumping that theremight be. p The num er of rollers operating upon the crop at one timedepend upon the rate of feed. At times only the bottom roller or thebottom two will operate. In the event, additional material comes alongthe cropk will pile up and all three of them will come into actlon. Thestreams of mate- The front wall 30 falling downwardly in the boot areindi-` cated by 60, and the upper end of the mat upon which they falluthus forming the mat is indicated by 60".

The completed mat 60h is moved by the conveyor 36 through a drying ovenabout one hundred and sixty feet long and subjected to adrying agentfrom a suitable furnace at a temperature offrom 275 F. to. 300 F. at apressure of about `one inch of Water for about thirty-two minutes, theconveyor 36 moving at the rate offabout live feet per minute. Theconstruction, operation and detail of the drying oven furnace, conveyor36, and associated apparatusand meehanism,form no part of the presentinvention but the samewillbe shown and claimed by me in otherapplications.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modiications. Changes,therefore, in the construction. and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as ossible in View of the priorart.l

at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In the formation for desiccation of a crop mat of substantiallyuniform thickness and permeability, the herein described step of looselydepositing the pieces practically individually and promiscuously on across sectional surface of the mat.

2. In the formation for desiccation of a crop mat of substantiallyuniform thickness and permeability, the herein described step ofloosely` depositing the pieces practically individually andpromiscuously on a her1-v zontal cross-sectional surface of the mat.

3. The process of forming a erop mat of substantially uniform thicknessand permeability, which comprises the step of loosely depositing thematerial to com ose the mat a mat by loosely dropping t on-a crosssectional surface` oA the mat so that the mat builds up endlessly.

4. The process of forming a crop mat of substantially uniform thicknessand permeability, which consists in cutting the crop into lengths notsubstantially longer than the thickness of the mat to be formed, andmolding the pieces into a mat by loosely depositing the same ona crosssectional surface of the mat being formed.

5. The vprocess of forming a cropmat consisting of rst substantially searating the crop pieces and then formingt esame into em on a hori.zontal cross sectional surface of the mat.

6. The process of forming a crop mat con- 7. The process of treatingcrops consisting l of cutting the crop while immature, substantiallyseparating the crop pieces, molding the same into a more or lessinterlocked or interwoven mat of substantially uniform thickness andpermeability, and passing a drying agent through said mat.

8. The process of treating crops consisting of cutting the crop whileimmature, mechanically substantially separating the individual croppieces and forming the same into a more or less interlocked orinterwoven mat of substantially uniform thickness and permeability, andpassing a drying agent through said mat.`

9. In the formation for desiccation of a crop mat of substantiallyuniform thickness and permeability, the herein described steps ofsubstantially separating the crop pieces` and loosely depositing themonto a cross-sectional surface of the mat so that the mat builds upendlessly.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising; a tubular mold ofsubstantially uniform cross-dimension substantially the same as thecross-dimension of the mat to' be formed; means adjacent. one end ofsaid mold for substantially separating crop pieces and depositing themin separated condition in said mold; and means adjacent the other end ofsaid mold for removing therefrom a completed crop mat.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising; a substantiallyvertical tubular mold of substantially uniform cross-dimensionsubstantially the same as the cross-dimensio'n of the mat to be formed;means adjacent the upper end of said mold for substantially separatingcrop pieces and depositing them in separated condition into said mold;and means adjacent the lower end of said mold for removing therefrom acompleted crop mat.

12. Apparatus of the character described cross-dimension substantiallythe same as the cross-dimension of the mat to be formed; means adjacentthe upper end of said mold for substantially separating croppieces anddepositing them in separated condition in 5 said mold; and meansadjacent the lower end of said mold for removing therefrom a completedcrop mat.

14. Apparatus of the`character described comprising; a tubular mold ofsubstantially uniform cross-dimension substantially the same as thecross-dimension of the mat to be formed; rotatable spiked rollersadjacent one end of said mold for substantially separating crop piecesand depositing them in separated condition in said mold; and meansadjacent the other end of said mold for removing therefrom a completedcrop mat.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising; a tubular mold;rotatable spiked rollers adjacent one end of said mold; means inconnection with said rollers whereby the spikes thereon are alternatelyretract ed and projected; and means adjacent the other end of said moldfor withdrawing therefrom a completed crop mat.

16. Apparatus of the character described comprising; a tubular mold ofsubstantially luniform cross-dimension substantially the same as thecross-dimensionof the mat to be formed; means for substantiallyseparating crop pieces; means for depositing them in separated conditionin said mold; and means for withdrawing a completed crop mat from saidmold.

17. Apparatus of the character described comprising; a substantiallyvertical tubular mold having one wall thereof downwardly movable;rotating spiked rollers adjacent therupper end of said mold; means inconnection with said rollers for alternately retracting and projectingthe spikes thereof; means for feeding crop material to said rollers,whereby the erop pieces will be engaged by said spikes, separated, andde osited in said mold; and means for with rawing a completed crop matfrom the lower end of said mold.

18. Apparatus of the character described comprising; a substantiallyvertical tubular mold having one Wall thereof downwardly movable andhaving a substantially crossdimension substantially the same as thecross-dimension of the mat to be formed; rotating spiked rollersadjacent the upper end of said mold; means for feeding crop material tosaid rollers, whereby the crop pieces will be engaged by said spikes,separated, and deposited in spaced condition in said mold; and means forwithrawing a completed crop mat from` the lower end of said mold. j

19. The process of forming a crop mat of substantially uniform'thickness and permeability, which consists in cutting the crop intolengths substantially the same length as the thickness of the mat to beformed, and molding the pieces into a more or less interlocked orinterwoven mat.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of AugustA. D. 1926.

ARTHUR J. MASON.

